Lamp socket for edge lighted panel



Aug. 12, 1958 M. JQPEAK ET AL. 2,847,654

LMP SOCKET FOR EDGE LIGHTED PANEL Filed June '7, 1956 INVENTORS: MAITLAND J- PEAK BYRODGER H. JENSEN am @Mw TTU'RNEYS.

United States Patent O.F

LAMP SOCKET FOR EDGE LIGHTED PANEL Maitland J. Peak, Malibu, and' Rodger H. Jensen, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Coastal Manufacturing Corporation, a corporation of California Application June 7,1956, Serial No. 589,898

Claims. (Cl. 339-130) This invention relates generally to a lamp socket;` and more specically to a lamp socket particularlyA adaptable to mounting on an edge lighted panel.

In applicants copending application, Serial Number 522,141, filed July 14, 1955,A and entitled Lamp Socket and Associated Electrical Connecting Means, there are shown in Figures 4, 7 and 8; of the drawings. different embodiments of lamp socketsv for connection into printed circuitry on edge lighted panels.` The: lamp sockets shown and described in the copending application, al though generally fulfilling the requirements of most appli, cations, have been found to be lacking in certain respects when incorporated in structures subjected to unusual environmental conditions.

In this regard, under extreme` temperature variations it has been found that deformation may occur in the plastic cap to result in an unsecure threaded, engagement between the cap and fixture. For this reason, one object of the present invention is' to provide a lamp socket corn struction eliminating the foregoing problem.

Another object of the present invention is` to provide a lamp socket for mounting in an edge lighted panel in which conducting circuits for energizing the lamp are effectively maintained despite shock or vibration to the mounting.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide such a lamp socket which may be readily as- `sembled and disassembled by unskilled operators, and which has a light weight and simple construction and is susceptible of economical production.

Generally, these and other objects and advantages of the present invention are attained by providing a hollow fixture which is dimensioned to be received within an aperture in an edge lighted panel. The fixture is designed to be fiush with one side of the panel and to` protrude from the other side. A nut is coupled to the protruding portion of the fixture so as to hold the fixture securely in place on the panel. In addition, a cap is secured to the nut and is adapted to cover the protruding portion of the fixture.

A clearer understanding of the invention will be had by reference to the accompanying drawings showing an illustrative embodiment, in which:

Figure l is a sectional view through the lamp socket of the present invention in its mounted position on the edge lighted panel;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lamp retaining t, means as employed in the socket construction of Figure Figure 3 is a plan view of a spring member employed in the socket construction of Figure 1; and,

Figure 4 is a cross sectional view of a spacer member employed in the socket construction of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings, in Figure 1 there is generally shown a lamp socket mounted on an edge lighted panel 11, the latter being of a construction similar to that shown in Figures l and 2 of the above referred to applicants copending application.

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The socket 10 includes a metallic cap 12 provided with a lower, open end 13. The end 13 of the cap` 12` is externally threaded for connection to threading` 14 within the upper portion of an annular metallic nut 15. The nut 15 is additionally provided with threading 16 for` connection to a fixture 17, which extends through and protrudes above one surface of the panel 11. The diameter of the threading 14 is at least as great as the diameter of the fixture 17 plus twice the thickness of the sidewalls of the cap 12, whereby the cap may be radially interposed between the cap 12 and the nut 15. Thus, the nut 15 not only serves as a means of securely holding a fixture 17 in its mounted position on the panel 11 (in a manner similar to the socket construction. shown in applicants. above referred to copending application), but alsov serves as a means of securely holding the cap 12 ina stable position with respect to the fixture 17.

The. upper end of the cap 12 is provided with an inner cup section 18, within which is resiliently held a spiral spring 19. The spring 19 is adapted to engage one terminal of a lamp 20. The lamp 20 is held within the cap 12 by retaining means in the form of an annular spacer 21, preferably formed of a compressible insulating material such as rubber or the like.

As shown more clearly in the view of Figurel 2, the spacer 21 is provided with a plurality of axially extending ridges 22 on its` outer periphery. Ina preferred construction, three such ridges are used each being positioned apart. In assembling the socket 10 the lamp 20is first pressed into the spacer, and thereafter the spacer 21 is forced up into the cap 12 through the lower end 13. The ridges 22 serve as a means of forming a forced fit between the spacer 21 and the inner side walls of the cap 1,2 yso as. to provide frictional engagement between the' spacer 21 and the cap, whereby the spacer 21 will remain securely in place afterbeing forced into the cap 12.

The fixture 17 includes a cylindrical plastic shell 23 Within which is imbedded a conducting member comprising a metallic cylindrical section 25 with which are integrally formed a plurality of legs or posts` 26 connecting with a base 27. The cylindrical section 25 has an inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the shell 23, whereby the section 25 is substantially flush with and exposed within the shell 23. The base 27,

in turn, is juxtaposed on an increased diameter thin flange In a preferred embodiment, an annular groove 29 is recessed into the cylindrical section 25 of the conducting member and a spring member 30 is resiliently held therein and is shaped, as is more clearly shown in the view of Figure 3, to form a connecting contact between the metallic band of the lamp 20 and the cylindrical section 25 of the conducting member. The spring member 30 includes a chord section 30a and two arcuate sections 30b. The arcuate sections 30b fit within the: groove 29 and the chord `section 30a is partially disposed radially inwardly from the groove 29, whereby the lamp 20 will force it back towards the groove as the lamp 20 is positioned within the fixture 17.

The annular nut 1S is counterbored at its lower end to provide an inner shoulder 31 adapted to accommodate a spring washer 32 of concave cross section, as more clearly shown in the view of Figure 4. With such a construction, when the nut 15 is screwed down onto the fixture 17, the washer 32 will be sprung tightly into position between the nut 15 and the printed circuitry on the upper face of the panel 11. As a consequence, contact will be constantly maintained between the nut 15 and the printed circuit through the medium of the washers 32, regardless of vibration or shock which may be transmitted to the socket assembly.

It is evident from the foregoing that the socket 10 may be readily assembled or disassembled even under undesirable maintenance conditions. Thus, there are only three major components in the socket 1li consisting of the cap 12, the nut 115, and the fixture i7. In addition, the lamp 20 is securely retained within the cap, thereby preventing its misplacement or loss.

Not only does the nut 15 act as a means of coupling together the cap 12 and the fixture 17, whereby either the fixture 17 or the cap l2 may be separately removed from the overall socket 1i), 1out the nut 15 also co-functions as part of the circuit energizing the lamp 20. In this regard, current flows fom a connecting portion, disclosed in applicants co-pendin. application, on an upper surface of the panel lll through the spacer 32, the nut 15, the metallic sidewalls of the cap l2, and thereafter through the spring 1.9 to the upper terminal of the lamp 20. The other circuit is from the flange 2S up through the posts 26 to the cylindrical section 25- of the conduct* ing member, and thereafter through the spring member 30 to the metallic band of the lamp 20.

In order to assure that the nut l5 is completely threaded onto the cap 12 and/ or xture 17, an aperture 33 may be drilled through the sidewall of the nut through which a tool may be inserted to obtain a greater turning torque. In addition, it is also desirable to provide anodizing coating over the cap 12 and `the nut 15 which will act to insulate these components.

It will be understood that certain modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in view of the above teachings, and that the invention may be practised otherwise than as specifically described accorded to the scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A lamp socket for mounting in an aperture of an edge lighted panel, said socket comprising: a generally cylindrical fixture dimensioned to be received in said aperture and extend therethrough, said fixture having one end protruding above one surface of said panel; a nut threadedly connected to the outer periphery of said one end, the bottom end of said nut being counterbored to form an inner annular shoulder; a spring washer adapted to fit within said nut on said shoulder; a cap threadedly d connected to the inner surface of said nut; and, lamp retaining means Within said cap.

2. A lamp socket according to claim 1, in which said spring washer is curved in cross section.

3. A lamp socket for mounting in an aperture of an edge lighted panel, said socket comprising: a generally cylindrical fixture dimensioned to be received in said aperture and extend therethrough, said fixture having one end protruding above one surface of said panel; said fixture comprising a cylindrical plastic shell, a conducting member imbedded in said shell and exposed on the inner surface of said shell, and an increased diame er flange connected to said conducting member exterior of and adjacent to the other end of said fixture; a nut threadedly connected to the outer periphery of said one end; a cap threadedly connected to the inner surface of said nut; and, lamp retaining means within said cap.

4. A lamp socket according to claim 3, in which said conducting member includes a cylindrical section having its inner diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of said shell so as to be exposed therein, and in which an inner annular groove is provided in said cylindrical section, and a spring member mounted within said groove including a chord portion partially disposed radially inwardly of said groove.

5. A lamp socket for mounting in an aperture of an edge lighted panel, said socket comprising: a generally cylindrical fixture dimensioned to be received in said aperture and extend therethrough, said fixture having one end protruding above one surface of said panel; said fixture comprising a cylindrical plastic shell, a conducting member imbedded in said shell and exposed on the inner surface of said shell, and an increased diameter ange connected to said conducting member exterior of and adjacent the other end of said fixture; a nut coupled to the outer periphery of said one end; and, a cap threadedly connected to the inner surface of said nut.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,664,228 Sparkes Mar. 27, 1928 2,637,802 Roper et al. May 5, 1953 2,677,045 MacArthur Apr. 27, 1954 2,681,980 Harrington June 22, 1954 

